Method of treating box-shooks.



METHOD .0F TREATING BOX SHOOKS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1910.

982,973., PatenaJan. 31, 1911.

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MERTON J. MILLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF TREATING BOX-SHOOKS.

Be it known that I, Mnn'roN J. Minnen, a citizen of the United States,residing atl Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Method of Treating Box-Shooks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of treating' box shocks, so as toenable shooks Which are defective by reason of knot holes or otherimperfections therein to be brought to a condition in which they will befree from such defects and will present substantially the sameappearance as if they were made of sound lumber, and the main object ofthe invention is to provide a method for accomplishing this result ineconomical and rapid manner, whereby the operation is capable of beingcarried ont commercially on a large scale.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of treating boxshocks as stated, whereby a flush or even surface may be provided on oneface of the box shook by an operation capable of heilig carried out in a.rapid and economical manner.

The invention comprises a method of operation and the box shook producedtherebyf said method consisting essentially in boring or otherwiseforming at the several knot holes or defects in the lumber an opening orhole of sufficient size to include the knot hole or defect, all theholes being of a given standard size so as to render the methodgenerally applicable to all of the lumber Without detail fitting to eachparticular piece, and subsequently closing said holes with a Wooden plugof corresponding shape and size, said plug occupying substantially theentire hole, but being particularly fitted With reference to the faceside of the shook so as to present aA flush surface. The plugs size andshape, there 1s no question of selection thereof to tit the differentsizes and shapes of holes or other defects in the lumber, and the boringand filling operation can be carried ont in a routine manner largely bymachinery, thereby reducing the expense of the operation to a minimum.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the manner in Which the inventionis carried out, and referring thereto:

Figure l is a plan of a defective box shook. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection Specification of Letters atent.

Application tiled April 2, 1910.

Patented Jan. Si., 191i.. Serial No. 553,148.

thereof on the line 2-a22 in Fig. l. Fig. o is a plan of the shook boardWithout the defects in accordance vvith the present method. F ig. et isa longitudinal section on the .ine #Een in Fig. 1:3. Fig. o is a planofone of the plugs. Fig. G is a transverse section thereof. Fig. T is aplan of the shook with the plug in position therein. Fig. 8 islongitudinal section on the line aisms in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an invertedplan of the finished shook, showing the means at the inside of the shookfor fastening the plugs therein. Fig. l() is a horizontal sec-A tion onthe line aulo- 010 in Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a perspective of one o-f thecrimped fasteners for fastening the plugs in place. F ig. l2 is apartial plan of a shook showing the application of the invention for theelimination of an unusual defect in the work requiring the applicationof more than one plug.

ln carrying out the invention, the de` fcctive shocks are separated fromthe clear shooks. l designates such a defective shook having' a knothole or defect 2. By means of a suitable boring tool or other cutter,preferably an annular saw, the shook l cnt or bored at or adjacent tothe knot hole or defect 2 so as to remove all of the portion of the woodcontaining such defeet as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. .4.. The openings orbores 3 are of uniform erstandard size .irrespective of the variationsor differences in the knot holes or defects 2. Plugs f-it, see Figs. andG, are provided corresponding in size and shape to the bores or openingsS3, said plugs being therefore all of standard or given size. The shookl is placed on a suitable support or table, indicated at 7, in Fig. S,and a plug i is pressed or shoved down into the opening 3, so as toclose the same and to tit tightly therein, vsaid plug being shoved downonto the table 7 so that it is flusn with the underface of the shook l..The plug is then fastened in place by means of suitable fasteners 9,preferably crimped fasteners, as shown in Fig. ll, said fasteners beinginserted. into the rear or inner side of the shook and of the plug, soas to enter said parts at the rear thereof, but not to penetrate throughto the front, thereby presenting a clear surface to the front or outsideof the shook. By performing all the boring operations successively andall of the plugging or iilling operations successively the expense isreduced to a minisaving in lumber and in cost of defective sections inthe shook.

cutting out As the metallic fasteners 9 are driven into the Wood,

they serve as keys or wedges, expanding the material of the plugs andcausing the saine to bind or press against the Walls of the opening 3,this Wedging or binding action insuring retention of the plugs in place.

The plugs l may be of a thickness somewhat greater or somewhat less thanthat of a shook, but it is preferred to place said plugs as stated sothat their outer faces Will be flush `'with the face of the shook so asto present an even surface as far as possible. lt. will be understood,however, that the purpose of the plugs is primarily to close theopenings in the shook. llvenuess of the surface, particularly7 on theinside, is of secondary importance. ln most cases box shooks aresurfaced on one side, namely, the side which is to be presented attheoutside of the box, and the plugs le are preferably similarly surfacedon one side, beine', for example, cut from the Waste or scraps of thelumber from which the shooks are cut.

Vhile the plugs are described as being of a standard or definite size,it will be understood that in a large mill Where the output is suficientto justify classification of the shooks, two or more sizes may be used,for example, to `provide for large and sniall knot holes. l prefer,however, in the case of extra large or irregiuar knot holes which cannotbe eliminated b v the `use of a single plug, to use a plurality of plugsin the inanner indicated in Fig. l2 Where the dotted line 2 indicates alarge knotv hole of irregular contour. ln that case a bore indicated at3 is rst made so as to include a portion of said large knot hole, thisbore being then closed by a plug en fastened by fasteners E) as abovedescribed, and another bore or opening 3 being then formed so as toinclude another portion of said knot hole, said bore .intersecting andcutting out a portion of the irst inserted plug and being then closed bya second plug 4, this operation being repeated as often as is necessaryto close the` hole. rl`he plug or plugs Which are later inserted arefastened not only by fasteners 9 extending into the body of the shook l,but also by a fastener or fasteners indicated at 9 connecting theseveral plugs.

Fasteners 9 are preferably of crimped metal having a knife edge orbeveled edge 9 at one end thereof to facilitate driving the saine intothe Wood. Said fasteners are sufficiently short so that in general withthe usual thickness of shook they do not extend clear through, beinginserted or driven into the shook and plugged from the rear sidethereof. ln sonic cases, however, particularlyv When the shook is ofextremely thin stock, these fasteners may extend clear through to thefront face, and may even be driven from the outside, When the externalappearance is immaterial.

TWhat l claim is:

The method of treating a box shook having a knot or other defect thereinwhich consists in forming an opening therein, including said defect,placing the shook with its finished face'fagainst a Work support havinga substantially plane surface, inserting a plug in the opening with itsfinished face in engagement With said Work support, and securing theplug in position by driving fastenings through the adjacent portions ofthe shook and plug in a direction to force said parts against the Worksupport;

In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand at- Los AngelesCalifornia this 26th day of March 1910.

MERTON J. MILLER. ln presence of- ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, l). H. SHELTON.

